If you are interested in learning Somali, here are some helpful conversational phrases you can learn to get started!
- Assalamu calaykum – Most Somalis are Muslim, so it makes perfect sense that this beautiful Arabic phrase (the literal meaning is ‘peace be upon you’) is used to greet someone. The reply: wa calaykum assalam → meaning peace be upon you too!
- Macagaa? – What’s your name? Magac is name and ‘’aa’’ is a shortened version of aagaa – magac+ aagaa – macagaa. The reply : My name is – magacaygu waa
- See tahay? Sidee tahay? Iska warran? Ma fiicantahay? This are all ways of conveying ‘how are you’. See tahay is more commonly used than sidee tahay, to ask how someone is. Ma fiicantahay is someone to confirm whether they are well. And iska warran if broken down means you are asking the person news about themselves. A suitable reply to all?: Haa, waan fiicanahay (yes, I am good).
- Fiican/wanaagsan – good
- Xun – bad!
- Maxaa tiiri? →What did you say? Useful if you didn’t quite hear what the person said the first time.
- Haa – yes
- Maya – no
- Subax wanaagsan – Good morning. Galab wanaagsan – Good afternoon. Habeen wanaagsan – good night. The reply to all is wanaagsan oo wacaan.
- Nabad gelyo – Good bye
Are there any phrases that you didn’t know? Let me know in the comments below! Interested in a free, handy pdf version of this blog with extra bonus phrases? Comment down below or subscribe to my blog if you want a copy! Mahadsanid and nabad gelyo!
Iftiin Learns 
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